The Reading / Listening - City of Trees - Level 6

The city of Manchester in England has embarked on an ambitious plan to plant three million trees. The project is called the "City of Trees". Project director, Tony Hothersall, explained that the green venture had three main aims. He said: "One is to plant three million trees - a tree for every man, woman and child - over the next 25 years. Next, we are very much focused on bringing existing woodland into management because there is no point in planting new woodland if you can't manage what you've got already. Finally, we want to engage people a lot more in their natural environment - in planting trees, in managing areas, [and] in understanding more about the benefits that trees and woodlands bring to our society."

Mr Hothersall further outlined the rationale behind the recently-launched environmental project. He said: "Manchester wants to be a world-class city region. We have a lot of fantastic development going on, but the natural environment needs to keep up with that." He believes the initiative will reconnect people with trees and the natural world, provide benefits to health and reduce stress. He said: "Woodlands can do great things in terms of air pollution reduction and can help to screen for noise pollution. They can also help cities and towns become more resilient to climate change both in terms of things like reducing the urban heat island effect and also reducing…flooding."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    City of Trees - Level 4  or  City of Trees - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38692022
  • http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/scheme-aiming-plant-tree-every-10497047
  • http://www.cityoftrees.org.uk/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. TREES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about trees. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       city / ambitious / plan / aims / trees / woodland / natural environment / society /
       rationale / project / world class / development / initiative / health / stress / flooding

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. REPLACEMENT: Students A strongly believe we should not cut down trees and instead find a replacement for wood; Students B strongly believe that's silly.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. BENEFITS: What are the benefits of trees to these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Benefits

Why?

Children

 

 

Health

 

 

The economy

 

 

Climate change

 

 

Mental wellbeing

 

 

Infrastructure

 

 

MY e-BOOK
See a sample

5. PLANT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "plant". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. CLIMATE CHANGE: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that make climate change worse at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • cars
  • cows
  • aerosols
  • average people
  • politicians
  • logging
  • coal
  • lack of education

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The City of Trees will be in the English city of Manchester.     T / F
  2. The project director said there are five main aims of the project.     T / F
  3. The director hopes many couples will get engaged in new woodland.     T / F
  4. The director said people will understand more about the benefits of trees.  T / F
  5. Manchester wants to be a world-class city.     T / F
  6. The director said the natural environment must keep up with development.  T / F
  7. The article said trees add to noise pollution.     T / F
  8. The article said urban heat islands lead to flooding.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. embarked
  2. ambitious
  3. venture
  4. focused
  5. benefits
  6. rationale
  7. fantastic
  8. reduce
  9. in terms of
  10. resilient
  1. logic
  2. enterprise
  3. regarding
  4. bold
  5. tough
  6. centred
  7. lower
  8. started
  9. marvellous
  10. advantages

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. embarked
  2. there is no
  3. we want to engage
  4. natural
  5. the benefits that trees and
  6. be a world-
  7. a lot of fantastic development
  8. reconnect people
  9. in terms
  10. become more resilient
  1. class city
  2. to climate change
  3. woodlands bring
  4. environment
  5. people
  6. on an ambitious plan
  7. with trees
  8. of air pollution
  9. going on
  10. point

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
project
existing
ambitious
benefits
focused
engage
aims
manage

The city of Manchester in England has embarked on an (1) ____________ plan to plant three million trees. The (2) ____________ is called the "City of Trees". Project director, Tony Hothersall, explained that the green venture had three main (3) ____________. He said: "One is to plant three million trees - a tree for every man, woman and child - over the next 25 years. Next, we are very much (4) ____________ on bringing (5) ____________ woodland into management because there is no point in planting new woodland if you can't (6) ____________ what you've got already. Finally, we want to (7) ____________ people a lot more in their natural environment - in planting trees, in managing areas, [and] in understanding more about the (8) ____________ that trees and woodlands bring to our society."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
reduce
fantastic
resilient
rationale
terms
effect
initiative
screen

Mr Hothersall further outlined the (9) ____________ behind the recently-launched environmental project. He said: "Manchester wants to be a world-class city region. We have a lot of (10) ____________ development going on, but the natural environment needs to keep up with that." He believes the (11) ____________ will reconnect people with trees and the natural world, provide benefits to health and (12) ____________ stress. He said: "Woodlands can do great things in (13) ____________ of air pollution reduction and can help to (14) ____________ for noise pollution. They can also help cities and towns become more (15) ____________ to climate change both in terms of things like reducing the urban heat island (16) ____________ and also reducing…flooding."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  director, Tony Hothersall, explained that the green venture had ______
     a.  three main arms
     b.  three main alms
     c.  three main aims
     d.  three main names

2)  Next, we are very much focused on bringing existing woodland ______
     a.  onto management
     b.  onto management
     c.  into management
     d.  in two management

3)  there is no point in planting new woodland if you can't manage what ______
     a.  you've got it rready
     b.  you've got all ready
     c.  you've got all readily
     d.  you've got already

4)  Finally, we want to engage people a lot more in their ______
     a.  naturally environment
     b.  natural environment
     c.  naturals environment
     d.  naturalism environment

5)  the benefits that trees and woodlands bring ______
     a.  to our society
     b.  to your society
     c.  too our society
     d.  to our societies

6)  outlined the rationale behind the recently-launched ______
     a.  environmental projection
     b.  environmental project
     c.  environmental protect
     d.  environmental protection

7)  fantastic development going on, but the natural environment needs to keep ______
     a.  up with this
     b.  up with these
     c.  up with them
     d.  up with that

8)  He believes the initiative will reconnect people with trees and ______
     a.  the natural worlds
     b.  the naturism world
     c.  the naturalist worlds
     d.  the natural world

9)  They can also help cities and towns become ______
     a.  more resilient
     b.  more reticent
     c.  more resurgent
     d.  more recycling

10)  in terms of things like reducing the urban heat ______
     a.  Iceland effect
     b.  Ireland effect
     c.  island effect
     d.  eye-land effect

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The city of Manchester in England has (1) ___________________ ambitious plan to plant three million trees. The project is called the "City of Trees". Project director, Tony Hothersall, explained that (2) ___________________ had three main aims. He said: "One is to plant three million trees - a tree for every man, woman and child - over the next 25 years. Next, we are very (3) ___________________ bringing existing woodland into management because there (4) ___________________ planting new woodland if you can't manage what you've got already. Finally, we want (5) ___________________ a lot more in their natural environment - in planting trees, in managing areas, [and] in understanding more about the benefits that trees and woodlands (6) ___________________."

Mr Hothersall further (7) ___________________ behind the recently-launched environmental project. He said: "Manchester wants to be a world-class city region. We have (8) ___________________ development going on, but the natural environment needs (9) ___________________ that." He believes the initiative will reconnect people with trees and the natural world, (10) ___________________ health and reduce stress. He said: "Woodlands can do great things in terms of air pollution reduction and can help to screen for noise pollution. They (11) ___________________ cities and towns become more resilient to climate change both in terms of things like reducing the urban (12) ___________________ also reducing…flooding."

Comprehension questions

  1. What adjective was used in the article to describe the plan?
  2. How many main aims does the project have?
  3. Over how many years will it take to plant the trees?
  4. What will the project engage more people in?
  5. What did the article say trees and woodlands will bring to society?
  6. What did Tony Hothersall outline?
  7. What kind of city does Manchester want to become?
  8. What will the initiative reconnect people with?
  9. What do trees screen for?
  10. What effect do trees help to reduce?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What adjective was used in the article to describe the plan?
a) enterprising
b) beautiful
c) difficult
d) ambitious

2) How many main aims does the project have?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5

3) Over how many years will it take to plant the trees?
a) 22
b) 23
c) 24
d) 25

4) What will the project engage more people in?
a) projects
b) each other
c) their natural environment
d) gardening

5) What did the article say trees and woodlands will bring to society?
a) planting
b) birds
c) managing
d) benefits

6) What did Tony Hothersall outline?
a) a city
b) a tree
c) a rationale
d) a launch

7) What kind of city does Manchester want to become?
a) world-class
b) the best at football
c) a centre for shopping
d) the one with the most trees

8) What will the initiative reconnect people with?
a) long-lost relatives
b) each other
c) trees
d) stress

9) What do trees screen for?
a) insects
b) noise pollution
c) movies
d) the sky

10) What effect do trees help to reduce?
a) heat island effect
b) domino effect
c) butterfly effect
d) flooding effect

Role play

Role A — Politicians

You think politicians are the biggest cause of climate change. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their causes. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): cars, logging or average people.

Role B — Cars

You think cars are the biggest cause of climate change. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their causes. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): politicians, logging or average people.

Role C — Logging

You think logging is the biggest cause of climate change. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their causes. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): cars, politicians or average people.

Role D — Average People

You think average people are the biggest cause of climate change. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their causes. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): cars, logging or politicians.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'tree'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'city'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • behind
    • class
    • keep
    • reduce
    • screen
    • heat
    • plan
    • green
    • 25
    • point
    • engage
    • society

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - City plans to plant 3 million trees

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'tree'?
    3. What do you think of the project?
    4. How green or tree-filled is your city?
    5. How important are trees?
    6. How can we respect trees more?
    7. What is your favourite tree, and why?
    8. How does looking at a tree make you feel?
    9. How engaged are you in the natural environment?
    10. What benefits do trees bring to society?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'environment'?
    3. What damage are we doing to trees?
    4. What are your feelings about disappearing woodlands and forests?
    5. How can people reconnect with nature?
    6. How can trees help education and employment?
    7. How can trees help the economy?
    8. How can trees help our wellbeing?
    9. What causes urban heat islands?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the project director?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The city of Manchester in England has (1) ____ on an ambitious plan to plant three million trees. The project is called the "City of Trees". Project director, Tony Hothersall, explained that the green venture had three (2) ____ aims. He said: "One is to plant three million trees - a tree (3) ____ every man, woman and child - over the next 25 years. Next, we are very much focused (4) ____ bringing existing woodland into management because there is no point in planting new woodland if you can't manage what you've got (5) ____. Finally, we want to engage people a lot more in their natural environment - in planting trees, in managing areas, [and] in understanding more about the (6) ____ that trees and woodlands bring to our society."

    Mr Hothersall further outlined the (7) ____ behind the recently-launched environmental project. He said: "Manchester wants to be a world-class city region. We have a lot of fantastic development going (8) ____, but the natural environment needs to keep (9) ____ with that." He believes the initiative will reconnect people with trees and the natural world, provide benefits to health and reduce stress. He said: "Woodlands can do great things in (10) ____ of air pollution reduction and can help to (11) ____ for noise pollution. They can also help cities and towns become more resilient to climate change both in terms of things like reducing the urban heat island (12) ____ and also reducing…flooding."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     reared     (b)     dog-eared     (c)     earmarked     (d)     benchmarked    
    2. (a)     maim     (b)     mane     (c)     mine     (d)     mean    
    3. (a)     for     (b)     from     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    4. (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     to     (d)     at    
    5. (a)     readily     (b)     already     (c)     ready     (d)     all ready    
    6. (a)     benefitting     (b)     benefited     (c)     beneficiaries     (d)     benefits    
    7. (a)     ration     (b)     rational     (c)     rationale     (d)     irrational    
    8. (a)     in     (b)     down     (c)     as     (d)     on    
    9. (a)     up     (b)     down     (c)     in     (d)     on    
    10. (a)     terms     (b)     times     (c)     teams     (d)     tomes    
    11. (a)     squeamish     (b)     screen     (c)     scree     (d)     scream    
    12. (a)     affect     (b)     infect     (c)     effect     (d)     reflect

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. embarked on an saubmiiot plan
    2. the green entruev had three main aims
    3. we are very much usfoced
    4. bringing ngietixs woodland
    5. agegne people a lot more
    6. in their tlauran environment

    Paragraph 2

    1. outlined the onelaitar
    2. the recently-calenhdu environmental project
    3. a world-class city eongri
    4. the inativetii will reconnect people
    5. in terms of air ltooplniu
    6. become more lestieinr to climate change

    Put the text back together

    (    )     25 years. Next, we are very much focused on bringing existing woodland into management because there is no point

    (    )     understanding more about the benefits that trees and woodlands bring to our society."

    (    )     like reducing the urban heat island effect and also reducing…flooding."

    (    )     Mr Hothersall further outlined the rationale behind the recently-launched environmental project. He said: "Manchester wants

    (    )     people a lot more in their natural environment - in planting trees, in managing areas, [and] in

    (    )     to be a world-class city region. We have a lot of fantastic development going on, but the natural

    (    )     with trees and the natural world, provide benefits to health and reduce stress. He said: "Woodlands can do great

    (    )     environment needs to keep up with that." He believes the initiative will reconnect people

    (    )     called the "City of Trees". Project director, Tony Hothersall, explained that the green venture had three main

    (    )     in planting new woodland if you can't manage what you've got already. Finally, we want to engage

    1  )     The city of Manchester in England has embarked on an ambitious plan to plant three million trees. The project is

    (    )     and towns become more resilient to climate change both in terms of things

    (    )     aims. He said: "One is to plant three million trees - a tree for every man, woman and child - over the next

    (    )     things in terms of air pollution reduction and can help to screen for noise pollution. They can also help cities

    Put the words in the right order

    1. plan   three  Embarked   ambitious  plant   trees   an   to   million  on   .
    2. that  venture   main  explained  green   3  Hothersall  the   had  aims   .
    3. existing   into   Focused   bringing   woodland   management   on   .
    4. in   people   their   a   natural   lot   environment   more   Engage   .
    5. woodlands   our   benefits   and  to   The   trees  bring   society   that   .
    6. to   The   keep   natural   up   environment   with   needs   that   .
    7. the   with   initiative   trees   will   He   reconnect   believes   people   .
    8. Woodlands   great   terms   pollution   do   in   air   can   things   of   .
    9. more  climate  cities  become  to   Help   towns  resilient  change  and  .
    10. island  effect  also  and  flooding  reducing  Reducing  the  urban  heat .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The city of Manchester in England has embarked / disembarked on an ambitious / ambition plan to plant three million trees. The project is calling / called the "City of Trees". Project director, Tony Hothersall, explained that the green venture / adventure had three mainly / main aims. He said: "One is to plant three million trees - a tree from / for every man, woman and child - over the next 25 years. Next, we are very much focus / focused on bringing existing woodland into management because there is no / not point in planting new woodland if you can't manage what you've got already. Finally, we want to engage people a lot more on / in their natural environment - in planting trees, in managing areas, and in / on understanding more about the benefits that trees and woodlands bring to our society."

    Mr Hothersall farther / further outlined the rationale / rational behind the recently-launched environmental project. He said: "Manchester wants to be a world-class city region / regional. We have a lot of fantastic development going / gone on, but the natural environment needs to keep down / up with that." He believes the initiative will reconnect people with trees and the natural world, provide benefits / beneficial to health and reduce stress. He said: "Woodlands can do great / greatly things in terms of / at air pollution reduction and can help to screen / scream for noise pollution. They can also help cities and towns become more resilient to climate change both in terms of things like reducing the urbane / urban heat island effect and also reducing…flooding."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_ c_ty _f M_nch_st_r _n _ngl_nd h_s _mb_rk_d _n _n _mb_t___s pl_n t_ pl_nt thr__ m_ll__n tr__s. Th_ pr_j_ct _s c_ll_d th_ "C_ty _f Tr__s". Pr_j_ct d_r_ct_r, T_ny H_th_rs_ll, _xpl__n_d th_t th_ gr__n v_nt_r_ h_d thr__ m__n __ms. H_ s__d: "_n_ _s t_ pl_nt thr__ m_ll__n tr__s - _ tr__ f_r _v_ry m_n, w_m_n _nd ch_ld, _v_r th_ n_xt 25 y__rs. N_xt, w_ _r_ v_ry m_ch f_c_s_d _n br_ng_ng _x_st_ng w__dl_nd _nt_ m_n_g_m_nt b_c__s_ th_r_ _s n_ p__nt _n pl_nt_ng n_w w__dl_nd _f y__ c_n't m_n_g_ wh_t y__'v_ g_t _lr__dy. F_n_lly, w_ w_nt t_ _ng_g_ p__pl_ _ l_t m_r_ _n th__r n_t_r_l _nv_r_nm_nt - _n pl_nt_ng tr__s, _n m_n_g_ng _r__s, [_nd] _n _nd_rst_nd_ng m_r_ _b__t th_ b_n_f_ts th_t tr__s _nd w__dl_nds br_ng t_ __r s_c__ty."

    Mr H_th_rs_ll f_rth_r __tl_n_d th_ r_t__n_l_ b_h_nd th_ r_c_ntly-l__nch_d _nv_r_nm_nt_l pr_j_ct. H_ s__d: "M_nch_st_r w_nts t_ b_ _ w_rld-cl_ss c_ty r_g__n. W_ h_v_ _ l_t _f f_nt_st_c d_v_l_pm_nt g__ng _n, b_t th_ n_t_r_l _nv_r_nm_nt n__ds t_ k__p _p w_th th_t." H_ b_l__v_s th_ _n_t__t_v_ w_ll r_c_nn_ct p__pl_ w_th tr__s _nd th_ n_t_r_l w_rld, pr_v_d_ b_n_f_ts t_ h__lth _nd r_d_c_ str_ss. H_ s__d: "W__dl_nds c_n d_ gr__t th_ngs _n t_rms _f __r p_ll_t__n r_d_ct__n _nd c_n h_lp t_ scr__n f_r n__s_ p_ll_t__n. Th_y c_n _ls_ h_lp c_t__s _nd t_wns b_c_m_ m_r_ r_s_l__nt t_ cl_m_t_ ch_ng_ b_th _n t_rms _f th_ngs l_k_ r_d_c_ng th_ _rb_n h__t _sl_nd _ff_ct _nd _ls_ r_d_c_ng…fl__d_ng."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the city of manchester in england has embarked on an ambitious plan to plant three million trees the project is called the "city of trees" project director tony hothersall explained that the green venture had three main aims he said "one is to plant three million trees - a tree for every man woman and child over the next 25 years next we are very much focused on bringing existing woodland into management because there is no point in planting new woodland if you can't manage what you've got already finally we want to engage people a lot more in their natural environment - in planting trees in managing areas [and] in understanding more about the benefits that trees and woodlands bring to our society"

    mr hothersall further outlined the rationale behind the recently-launched environmental project he said "manchester wants to be a world-class city region we have a lot of fantastic development going on but the natural environment needs to keep up with that" he believes the initiative will reconnect people with trees and the natural world provide benefits to health and reduce stress he said "woodlands can do great things in terms of air pollution reduction and can help to screen for noise pollution they can also help cities and towns become more resilient to climate change both in terms of things like reducing the urban heat island effect and also reducing…flooding"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThecityofManchesterinEnglandhasembarkedonanambitiousplantop
    lantthreemilliontrees.Theprojectiscalledthe"CityofTrees".Projectdir
    ector,TonyHothersall,explainedthatthegreenventurehadthreemain
    aims.Hesaid:"Oneistoplantthreemilliontrees-atreeforeveryman,wo
    manandchild-overthenext25years.Next,weareverymuchfocusedo
    nbringingexistingwoodlandintomanagementbecausethereisnopoint
    inplantingnewwoodlandifyoucan'tmanagewhatyou'vegotalready.Fi
    nally,wewanttoengagepeoplealotmoreintheirnaturalenvironment-
    inplantingtrees,inmanagingareas,[and]inunderstandingmoreabout
    thebenefitsthattreesandwoodlandsbringtooursociety."MrHothersall
    furtheroutlinedtherationalebehindtherecently-launchedenvironm
    entalproject.Hesaid:"Manchesterwantstobeaworld-classcityreg
    ion.Wehavealotoffantasticdevelopmentgoingon,butthenaturalenvir
    onmentneedstokeepupwiththat."Hebelievestheinitiativewillreconn
    ectpeoplewithtreesandthenaturalworld,providebenefitstohealthand
    reducestress.Hesaid:"Woodlandscandogreatthingsintermsofairpoll
    utionreductionandcanhelptoscreenfornoisepollution.Theycanalsohe
    lpcitiesandtownsbecomemoreresilienttoclimatechangebothinterms
    ofthingslikereducingtheurbanheatislandeffectandalsoreducing…flo
    oding."

    Free writing

    Write about City of Trees for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Academic writing

    We should stop cutting down trees and find an alternative to wood. Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. TREES: Make a poster about trees. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. WOOD ALTERNATIVE: Write a magazine article about cutting out our reliance on wood and finding an alternative. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on trees. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can plant more and cut down fewer trees. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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